Suburb profile: Tinbeerwah

Hinterland hideaway Tinbeerwah, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, became one of the state’s million-dollar-plus suburbs for the first time last year.

It’s the Sunshine Coast’s only representative on the exclusive RP Data list, outranking high-profile neighbour Noosa Heads and mixing it with older Brisbane suburbs such as Ascot and Hamilton, or glitter strip Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

While sales were few, 15 in total, the area tucked behind Noosaville and Tewantin is thriving on a desire for space and a need for old-fashioned peace and quiet.

“The suburb sits on top of the range, so has great elevation and a lot of properties have beautiful, expansive views," says Fiona Winter of Fiona Winter Realty.

“It has a number of acreage properties, but most importantly they’re lovely homes and people have taken pride in building the homes and looking after the gardens and surrounds."

Rolling hills give way to wide streets and sweeping driveways.

Winter says residents also appreciate the easy access to Noosa (a 15-minute drive), historic market town Eumundi (also 15 minutes) and the Bruce Highway, on which it takes 90 minutes to get to Brisbane.

Hobby farms and acreages, along with a mix of sprawling Queenslanders and luxurious but understated modern family homes, characterise Tinbeerwah.

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It’s not unusual to see a few alpacas in someone’s “backyard" and small cattle lots or crops of fruit trees for commercial purposes, are also common.

Entry-level homes start from $600,000, which is predominantly land value. Blocks range from 2000 square metres, found on Sunrise Road, and can be as large as two, four, or eight hectares off Dath Henderson Road.

Patterson and Kingsgate drives and Mackay and Vines courts are the suburb’s best-known and most sought-after streets.

There are wide, tree-lined roads bordered by manicured lawns, and well-presented properties. A four-bedroom, 746 square metre home with fully serviced guest accommodation on Patterson Drive is on the market, reduced to $1.49 million, says Winter.

Prices in neighbouring suburbs, most notably Noosa Heads, have plummeted in the past three years as discretionary spending and the holiday home market have collapsed. And while Tinbeerwah homes have not been immune to the fallout from the global financial crisis, vendors tend to be long-term residents who have either met the market or attracted buyers who see value in the land.

Winter says the market provides a lot of choice for buyers, with a diverse range of property priced from $600,000 to $2 million.

Tinbeerwah is a versatile area. Its proximity to Noosa means it’s a logical step for third- and fourth-home buyers upgrading from nearby Noosaville or Tewantin who want more space for their children. It has also started to appeal to buyers from Sydney and Melbourne who can’t believe they can find space and privacy within a 10-minute drive of beaches and restaurants.

There’s a large retiree population but also a few making a transition by working from home for most of the week and taking the occasional interstate flight.